HUNGER MARCHERS

Hokitika Guardian, 31 October 1932, Page 5

HUNGER MARCHERS

LONDON DISORDER IMPRISONMENT AND FINES. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Oct. 2S: As a sequel to the disorderly episode connected with the Hyde Park demon tration, fourteen men appeared in the London Police Courts on various charges. With two exceptions, all gave London addresses and apparently did not take part in the march to London li’oni various parts of the country.; Two were sentenced to six months’ hard labour for assaulting the police. Fine s of £5 and 20s were imposed on two others for obstructing the police. One prisoner was discharged and the remainder were remanded. After finding that tiie House ol Commons was not sitting, a • deputation of the hunger marchers, including women, carrying haversacks, called at sfo. 10 Downing street, with a letter asking the Speaker of the House to? receive a delegation from the unemployed at the Bar of the House. The letter stated the delegation would be petitioning against the econmy “cuts” revealing the appalling conditions of millions of the unemployed. There also was a letter to Mr Ram. say MacDonald requesting that there ho a public inquiry held into the Hyde Park incidents, and alo the immediate release of the prisoners. A special. messenger is conveying the second letter to Mr MacDonald, who is out of town. The hunger marchers, who were eating oranges, then returned to their headquarters.

THE AFFRAY AT HYDE PARK A REPORT BEFORE THE COMMONS . LONDON, October 28. In the Commons, Sir J. Gilmore said that the Lancashire unemployed contingent to Hyde Park, were accompanied by a lorry, and when the police searched it they found 154 ashsticks some ■of them with nails protruding. The sticks ; were placed underneath foodstuffs in the lorry. The presence of such weapons could only be deliberate. ' i Another motor van had somehow obtained an entrance to the park, and the police saw cudgels unloaded from this van, which also contained sticks. Missiles that were ’found after the disturbance included iron bolts, stones, ah eighteen inch jemmy, an open clasp knife. He said the police had behaved with great forbearance. They 1 had shepherded the people in the streets with care, and had conducted them in the evening to places of shelter, The greater part of these difficulties were not caused by the genuine unemployed. (Cheers.)

PRINCE OF WALES’ COMMENT. , - RUGBY, Oct. 28. The Prince of Wales flew in a private aeroplane to Worcester, v\'here he opened a new bridge and park, and fulfilled several other public functions. Referring in his speech to the unemployment problem, he said the question of how to restore the old level of employment, and in the meantime how best to care for those who through no fault of their own, were out of work, was rarely out of his mind. He congratulated Worcester on the local effort to give occupation and provide organised recreation for the workless.